Published: TUESDAY July 8, 2024: 'Ukraine's DARK SUMMER' by ZUMA Press photographer in Ukraine Andreas Stroh: During the last weekend of June alone, Russia carried out its most intense aerial bombardment since its invasion of Ukraine which started more than three years ago: a total of 537 drones, missiles and other explosive devices rained down on the country in the space of just a few hours. Anti-aircraft defenses destroyed half of them, while the rest fell on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, where the population spent hours in shelters and in the underground metro. In June, the pace of drone and missile attacks was three times that of the same month last year. Still the most worrying reality right now for Ukrainians is the looming Russian summer offensive. Welcome to 'Ukraine's DARK SUMMER'
© zReportage.com Issue #995 Story of the Week: Published: TUESDAY July 8, 2024: 'Ukraine's DARK SUMMER' by ZUMA Press photographer in Ukraine Andreas Stroh: During the last weekend of June alone, Russia carried out its most intense aerial bombardment since its invasion of Ukraine which started more than three years ago: a total of 537 drones, missiles and other explosive devices rained down on the country in the space of just a few hours. Anti-aircraft defenses destroyed half of them, while the rest fell on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, where the population spent hours in shelters and in the underground metro. In June, the pace of drone and missile attacks was three times that of the same month last year. Still the most worrying reality right now for Ukrainians is the looming Russian summer offensive. Welcome to 'Ukraine's DARK SUMMER'
Ukrainian flag out of colored stones at Independence Square Maidan Nezalezhnosti to honor fallen soldiers of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On a commemorative plaque, now covered by flags, it is written: 'Each of these flags represents an innocent life stolen by madman Putin.'
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Funeral ceremony of fallen Ukrainian service member Yuriy Skrut, part of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Yuriy Skrut was last deployed in the Kharkiv region, where he fell on March 30, 2025..He is being laid to rest at Field of Mars burial site for fallen Ukrainian soldiers who died during the Russo-Ukrainian war at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
People remove broken windows and clear up the aftermath of a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Free Azovstal protest with family and friends of soldiers who are being held in captivity by Russia. The soldiers surrendered to Russia on May 20th 2022 to save lives at the Azovstal Iron and Steal works of Mariupol. Some have been released, many are still being held in Russian captivity.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Participants take part in an adaptive training session during the presentation of the social competition ''Time to Act, Unstoppable 2025'' in Kyiv. The initiative aims to support the creation of inclusive sports spaces for veterans and people with disabilities across Ukraine.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Friends and family along with people of the town of Slavuta pay their tribute to fallen service member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Samoilovych. Born on September 17, 2006, Samoilovych was only 18 years old when he was killed in the Pokrovsk region on April 5, 2025.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Mother and brother pay their tribute to fallen service member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Samoilovych. Born on September 17, 2006, Samoilovych was only 18 years old when he was killed in the Pokrovsk region on April 5, 2025.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Smoke rises above orange glowing flames after Russian nighttime attack with Shahed drones on Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Smoke rises over a residential area after a Russian drone attack with Shahed drones on Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
View through fence of Independence Square Maidan Nezalezhnosti with a national flag and the Saint Sophia Cathedral in the background during holy week in Kyiv.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
A war crimes prosecutor from the Kharkiv Region is seen in front of a residential building in Kharkiv one day after it was damaged by shelling from Russia using an Iskander missile.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
A tulip grows in front of destroyed Specialized school #134 seen in Kharkiv on Easter Sunday. The school, famous for teaching German, was reached by Russian forces on the 27th of February 2022. Fierce battles between Ukrainians and Russians took place in the school which ultimately burned down due to Ukrainian tank shelling, inflicting heavy Russian casualties. In total, more than 70 percent of Kharkiv's schools are either damaged or destroyed.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Young students sharing a laugh during a class on Easter weekend in a newly constructed underground school in Kharkiv. Many of them are wearing traditional Ukrainian Vyshyvanka clothes. Due to constant Russian shelling, over 70 percent of schools in Kharkiv have been damaged or destroyed. Underground schools provide the children and teenagers with a safe space for studying during the time of war.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Worshipers attend the Easter Monday festivities at Church of St. Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints in Bucha. The city close to Ukraine's capital Kyiv, was occupied by Russia in the first weeks of the war. Russian troops committed war crimes in the city, including execution of civilians, which were buried in mass graves on the church grounds.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
View from inside a vehicle of the destruction after a Russian missile strike on a residential building, which resulted in two deaths and left 54 others injured.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Emergency Service members clean up the rubble and search for survivors on the site of destruction after a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. At least nine people have been killed and many more injured.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
As night falls in Kyiv, a woman is seen holding her dog in her arms, as rescue services continue to work on site of impact after a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's capital Kyiv. The attack resulted in two deaths and left 54 others injured.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Residents wait in the street after a Russian missile strike on a residential area of Ukraine's capital Kyiv. Two people have been killed and many more injured.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
As night falls in Kyiv, rescue services continue to work on site of impact after a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, hitting a residential area in the Sviatoshynskyi District. At least twelve people were killed and many more injured.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Students and friends mourn their killed classmates a day after a deadly Russian missile attack on Kyiv, killing 12, including 3 children.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
People mourn the loved ones they lost with flowers, candles and plush toys at site of destruction two days after a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's capital Kyiv on April 24, 2025. Twelve people were killed and many more injured.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, President of Ukraine, is welcomed by Austrian Federal Chancellor CHRISTIAN STOCKER at the Federal Chancellery of Austria in Vienna.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Funeral ceremony of F-16 pilot 1st Class Lt. Col. Maksym Ustymenko, service member of the Ukrainian Air Force. He was killed while fighting off Russia's biggest attack on Ukraine so far on June 28th. Posthumously, he was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine by the Ukrainian president.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Family members grieve during the funeral ceremony of F-16 pilot 1st Class Lt. Col. Maksym Ustymenko, service member of the Ukrainian Air Force. He was killed while fighting off Russia's biggest attack on Ukraine so far on June 28th. Posthumously, he was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine by the Ukrainian president.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
Smoke rising after a Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv.
© Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire
